Releasable display card mounting method



July 8, 1969 w. K. SONNE RELEASABLE DISPLAY CARI) MOUNTING METHOD Filed June 13, 1966 INVENTOR. WILLIAM K. SONNE FIG 4 Wg W FIG....5

ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,453,760 RELEASABLE DISPLAY CARD MOUNTING METHOD William K. Sonne, San Francisco, Calif. (1475 Lakeview Drive, I-Iillsborough, Calif. 94010) Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,059 Int. (ll. G09f 1/10, 11/30 US. Cl. 40-124 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Mounting apparatus utilizing a support structure having a plastic surface, and a paper sheet to be mounted, the structure and the sheet being electrostatically charged and attracted to each other. The sheet is initially movable into engagement with and frictionally along the plastic surface of the support structure to create the electrostatic charge. The invention is suitable for a number of different applications where paper sheets are to be releasably attached to a supporting surface.

This invention relates to improvements in display apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus and a method for electrostatically mounting paper sheets, or sheets of material of which paper is a component part.

The invention resides in apparatus and a method for placing sheets of paper in mounted positions for display or other purposes by electrostatic forces. The apparatus includes a supporting structure of a suitable plastic material to which one or more paper sheets can be removably coupled by electrostatic charges of opposite polarity on each sheet and the supporting surface respectively, the charges being developed by relative movement between the plastic material and the paper sheets when the same are in engagement with each other. The simplicity of the invention centers upon the way in which the sheets are readily coupled to the supporting structure without adhesives or fasteners. Merely by sliding each sheet on the supporting structure or by sliding the supporting structure over the sheet when the latter engages the structure, the requisite electrostatic force is created. In either case, an electrostatic charge is developed in the structure and each sheet to form a releasable bond so that these two components are attracted to each other. The force of attraction will depend upon the amount of sliding or rubbing that is done and on the materials which are used in forming the supporting structure and the sheet.

The present invention is adaptable for a number of different applications where a positive connection between a sheet of paper and a supporting surface must be made. Since electrostatic forces are employed, there is no actual mechanical structure required between the components to interconnect them. Thus, there is no problem of damage to the sheet or the supporting surface which is oftentimes caused by conventional fastening means.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide apparatus and a method for mounting paper sheet material in selected positions on an electrostatically chargeable supporting surface by electrostatic, attractive forces developed by a mere sliding action between the sheet material and the surface to simplify the mounting step as well as to avoid the necessity for conventional adhesives or fasteners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the type described which is simply and readily formed by sliding a paper sheet or sheets over a plastic supporting surface or by moving the surface relative to and over the sheets so that the sheets and the support structure will become electrostatically charged and 3,453,760 Patented July 8, 1969 will be attracted to each other to provide a releasable bond therebetween which does not change or otherwise affect the structural make-up of either the sheets or the supporting surface such as occurs when conventional fasteners are used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of interconnecting one or more paper sheets to a plastic supporting surface wherein a positive connection between these components can be made by merely sliding one component relative to and over an exposed surface of the other to electrostatically charge the same with charges of opposite polarity. Thus, the present method not only eliminates the need to practice conventional fastening techniques, but also it simplifies the interconnecting operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus having a supporting surface capable of being electrostatically charged wherein the apparatus can be readily mounted in a disposition to permit sheets of paper to be electrostatically attracted thereto merely upon sliding the paper over the surface so that the paper sheets will thus be removably mounted for display purposes in fixed positions on the surface for relatively long periods of time.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the invention in the nature of a mounting support for use with a photocopy machine or the like;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of another form of the invention in the nature of a bulletin board;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a third form of the invention illustrating a flip-chart assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth form of the invention in the nature of a photo mounting album; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of a fifth form of the invention in the nature of a table for mounting maps or navigational charts.

The first form of the apparatus selected to illustrate the teachings of this invention is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a plastic backing member 10 adapted to support one or more paper sheets 12 in predetermined locations. Member 10 may be transparent or opaque as desired and may be provided with guidelines 14 for aligning sheets 12 in predetermined positions thereon. Member 10 is suitable for mounting sheets 12 on a photocopy machine 16, only a portion of which is shown. A number of commercially available machines of this nature have windows against which material to be copied is placed. Normally, no means is provided to permit precise location of the material to be copied to permit accurate registration with the material onto which the copy is to be made.

In using the present invention, sheets 12 are caused to slide individually over one face of member 10 to develop an electrostatic charge by friction in both member 10 and the sheets. The charges on member 10 and each sheet 12 will be of opposite polarity and thereby attractive so that an attractive force will exist between these components. The various sheets 12 can be positioned as desired. Lines 14 are provided for this purpose. Member 10 thus provides a matrix or jig which orients sheets 12 and provides the means whereby the same is held in respective locations on the machine while the copying operation takes place.

The sliding of the sheets over member 10 can be done either with member 10 in place on machine 16 or a location remote from the machine and then carried to and placed thereon. Also, the charge can be developed by moving member 10 relative to sheets 12 if such is deemed necessary or desirable.

It is a simple matter to remove member from the machine and to remove the sheets from the member after the copying operation. If sheets 12 are placed on member 10 at a location remote from machine 16, additional members 10 can be readied for use and successively put in place on the machine for copying purposes.

Any plastic material may be used in constructing member 10. However, vinyl is preferred since it has been found that a greater electrostatic charge is more readily developed therein than is capable with other plastic materials under substantially the same conditions. Other materials for this purpose include styrene and acetate. It has been found also that the thinner the plastic the better it is for developing the charge. In general, it is preferred that member 10 have a thickness of .005 to .010 inch. Plastic sheet of these materials and in this range of thickness can be economically made and readily cut to size so that this form of the invention is suitable for use with large photo reproduction equipment, photostating equipment, lithograph plate making equipment and photo enlarging equipment.

In FIG. 2, a second form of the invention is illustrated and includes a vertically disposed, plastic backing member 110 to which one or more paper sheets 112 are electrostatically attached. The attachment is made by sliding sheets 112 over the surface of member 110. In either case, electrostatic charges of opposite polarity are devel oped on the various components to provide the requisite electrostatic force of attraction.

The combination of FIG. 2 is especially suitable for use as a bulletin board wherein sheets 112 define notices or other descriptive material as member 110 remains in a vertical position on a wall 116. A suitable frame 118 may outline the border of member 110.

Member 110 is preferably to be formed from a relatively thin sheet of vinyl material. To mount it vertically, it can be secured by a suitable adhesive to a relatively rigid panel 120, such as Masonite or the like. The panel can be secured in any desired manner to a vertical wall or similar support.

Member 110 can also be provided with a self-adhesive backing for direct attachment to a wall or can be mounted on wall 116 merely by inducing an electrostatic charge on it when it is placed against the wall by rubbing it thoroughly with a piece of paper, items to be attached to it or other suitable material. Thus, with member 110 in place, paper items can be attached to it by sliding or lightly rubbing the items over the exposed surface of member 110 to induce an electrostatic charge in the items.

Since the thickness of member 110 is to be relatively small, it may be desirable to form it by spraying one face of panel 120 with the material in liquid form and then allowing the material to set to a hardened condition. The result is a layer of the material having a thickness defined by the spraying time for each location on the panel. Means may be provided to assure uniformity in the thickness of the layer to achieve optimum results when the layers defines the plastic member 110.

A third form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 and is adapted for use as a fiip-chart assembly. In this case, the flip-chart assembly may include a number of plastic backing members 210 to which a sheet 212 is electrostatically attached in the manner set forth above. Each plastic member 210 is mounted for swinging movement in a vertical are on an upright support 214 having hinge means 216 permitting the swinging of each member 210. A paper sheet 218 is preferably positioned between each pair of adjacent members 210 respectively to prevent the creation of an electrostatic charge on one member as 7 a sheet paper 212 engages and is rubbed over an opposite face of the other member.

Each paper sheet 212 is provided with the desired information thereon which is displayed when the corresponding member 210 is in a first position on support 214. To change from one sheet 212 to another it is necessary only to flip or shift the outermost member in a vertical arc so as to position the next adjacent sheet 212 5 for viewing.

In FIG. 4, another embodiment of the invention is shown. FIG. 4 shows a photoalbum having leaves or backing member 310 onto which sheets 312 are electrostatically placed. Sheets 312 can comprise photographs and the necessary electrostatic charge can be developed by merely sliding the photographs over the surface of leaves 310.

Leaves 310 may be of transparent plastic material and of double wall construction so that an opaque sheet, such as paper or the like, can be inserted between the walls to separate the sides of the member. In the alternative, each leaf 310 can itself be opaque and of plastic material. A paper leaf 314 is inserted between each pair of adjacent leaves 310 to prevent sheets 312 or one leaf 310 from being attracted to sheet 312 of the other leaf.

The aforesaid photo mounting structure will avoid mechanical devices for holding photographs in place. The present invention therefore greatly simplifies the photo mounting operation and permits replacement of photographs as well as changing locations in the album.

A fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5 and includes a map table having a plastic upper surface 410 on which a map or other navigational chart 412 is electrostatically mounted. Map 412 need only be shifted along the surface 410 to develop the requisite electrostatic charges of opposite polarity in surface 410 and map 412 respectively. Although surface 410 is shown as being horizontally disposed it is clear that it may be inclined if desired.

Other applications of the concepts of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art and the foregoing embodiments are to be considered as illustrative only and not limiting the scope of the invention. In all of the foregoing illustrations, the paper sheet material to be displayed or mounted is electrostatically attracted to the supporting structure and the requisite electrostatic charge is developed either by sliding the sheet itself over the supporting structure or by moving the supporting structure relative to the sheet.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of supporting and adhering a sheet of paper in a predetermined position on a board-like structure having a plastic surface thereon adapted to have an electrostatic charge of a given polarity induced therein comprising placing an information bearing sheet of paper on the surface of said structure in a position removed from said predetermined position, sliding the sheet of paper from said removed position to said predetermined position thereby inducing in said plastic surface and said 55 paper sheet charges of opposite polarity.

2. The method of claim 1 including establishing guiding indicia on said structure for defining said predetermined position to which said sheet of paper is slid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,293,887 8/ 1942 Chamberlain. 2,586,009 2/1952 Dickey 40-l40 3,274,706 9/1966 Freind.

FOREIGN PATENTS 845,441 7/ 1952 Germany.

0 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

US Cl. X.R. 

